Honey Substitute

How to use it:

Replace the honey in your recipe with agave using a 1:1 ratio. Agave is a perfect honey substitute in baking, drinks, and cooking savory meals.

2. Maple Syrup

Can you use maple syrup as a substitute for honey? Absolutely! Real maple syrup is a fantastic replacement for honey in both cooking and baking. It has a distinct flavor that will add to any recipe and it is wonderfully sweet.

However, honey is actually sweeter than maple syrup and syrup has a thinner consistency. For these reasons, you may need to make a few tweaks to your recipe when using this ingredient especially if you are looking for honey substitutes in baking recipes.

I also have a whole list of maple syrup substitutes that may help with your baking (and pancake toppings!).

How to use it:

When using maple syrup to replace honey in a savory recipe, you can replace it using a 1:1 ratio. This works perfectly for sauces and glazes.

When baking, replace honey with a syrup that consists of ½ cup white sugar and ½ cup maple syrup to substitute 1 cup of honey. This will give the baked goods the sweetness you need and won't make the batter too loose.

3. Brown Sugar

Brown sugar is a very common substitute for honey. You may already have it in your pantry so it's very convenient and it has a nice strong flavor that will enhance your foods, just like honey. Brown sugar is a good honey substitute for both baking and cooking.

Honey is about 1.3 times sweeter than sugar so you need to use more brown sugar than honey. It is also granular rather than a syrup which needs to be taken into consideration as far as the texture of your foods.

Also, check out my super detailed article about how to substitute honey for sugar which will give you even more info about this very common ingredient swap.

How to use it:

Use 1 cup of brown sugar to replace every ¾ cup of honey. You should also increase any liquids in the recipe by ¼ cup.

4. Corn Syrup

Corn Syrup is one of the most common substitutes for real honey. It is cheap, viscous, and looks a whole lot like honey, too. Corn syrup is a little less sweet and doesn't have any of the nutritional benefits of honey. However, it can be a good replacement in baking and cooking if you are simply looking to sweeten your dish and keep the texture the same.

How to use it:

Use a 1:1 ratio when replacing honey with light corn syrup. When using dark corn syrup, use ¾ cup to replace every one cup of honey. The dark corn syrup has a more intense taste that can be overpowering.

5. Coconut Nectar

Coconut nectar is a sweetener that comes from the flowers of the coconut tree. It has a natural caramel-like flavor and a thick consistency that is similar to honey. Plus, coconut nectar has a low glycemic index score, low fructose levels, and also lots of vitamins and minerals.

How to use it:

Use coconut nectar as a 1:1 substitute for honey in any recipe. Its thick consistency and sweet taste make it perfect for replacing honey in baking or for making sauces and savory recipes.

6. Molasses

Molasses is a sticky byproduct of the sugar refining process. It is thick and syrupy, just like honey, and has a powerful, rich taste.

Plus, molasses is high in antioxidants, just like honey. It also has calcium, iron, and polyphenols which can help burn fat. Molasses is a good honey substitute in cooking and baking.

Check out my molasses substitute guide if you ever need to replace this dark, stick sweetener!

How to use it:

Replace the honey in your recipe with the same quantity of molasses. If your baking and the recipe also calls for vanilla extract, you may want to remove that ingredient. Molasses has a very strong vanilla flavor so you do not need to necessarily add more.

7. Golden Syrup

Many people confuse honey and golden syrup since they look virtually the same. Golden syrup is very common in England and has a sweet, almost buttery taste. It is a fantastic substitute for honey as it is vegan, gluten-free, and has a nice, bold taste.

Be sure to look at my golden syrup substitute guide to learn even more about this sweetener.

How to use it:

Replace honey with the same quantity of golden syrup in any recipe. It is a good honey substitute for bread, sauces, marinades, and even cookies!

8. Brown Rice Syrup

Brown rice syrup is also called rice malt syrup or brown rice sugar. It is the go-to vegan honey substitute thanks to its sweetness, golden color, and flavor.

Brown rice syrup is not nearly as healthy as honey and is made primarily of carbs. It is pretty high in calories making it one of the less healthy honey substitutes on this list.

How to use it:

Use one cup of brown rice syrup to replace one cup of honey. This substitute is good for baking and cooking applications.

9. Applesauce

It may surprise you, but applesauce is a great honey substitute in baking. It adds a natural, sweet flavor and it will help keep your baked goods tender and moist. Plus, it is a vegan-friendly honey substitute and the lower sugar content makes it a good sweetener for diabetics.

How to use it:

Replace the honey in your recipe with the same quantity of apple sauce. Then, for every one cup of applesauce, reduce the amount of liquid in your recipe by ½ cup. For example, if you replace a cup of honey with one cup of applesauce, you will need to use ½ cup less milk (or water). This will account for the amount of liquid in the applesauce.

10. Yacon Root Syrup

Yacon syrup is an amazing honey substitute that comes from the roots of the yacon plant (yes, it is vegan-friendly!). It is sticky and thick just like honey but with a little less sweetness. Yacon syrup is a good keto honey substitute and it will not cause your blood sugar to spike making it a good honey substitute for diabetics.

The only drawback is that it cannot be baked at high heat making it a better honey substitute for sauce or cooking rather than baking.

How to use it:

Replace one cup of honey with one cup of yacon syrup. This is a good honey substitute in Asian cooking where honey is added at the end for sweetness and also as a honey substitute for chicken dishes that need just a touch of low carb sweetness.

11. Date Paste

Dates are a super sweet, vegan honey alternative that tastes great and is easy to make. The thick, moist consistency is great for baked goods but will add a chunkier consistency to your sauces and savory foods. Keep this in mind when choosing this healthy honey substitute.

I especially love using date paste to make baked goods like muffins and quick breads. Try some of my best muffin recipes and replace any honey with date paste. You'll love the transformation!

How to use it:

Puree one cup of dates with 1 ½ cups water until completely smooth. Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to enhance the flavor. Then, replace one cup of honey with ¾ cup of date paste.

12. Ripe Bananas

If you need an alternative for honey in recipes to cut down on processed sugars, try using those ripe bananas in your fruit basket instead. Bananas are naturally sweet and vegan-approved. Plus, they are super healthy!

Bananas contain lots of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals that will benefit your diet. Mashed bananas are great for replacing honey in baked goods but not as great for savory dishes. Banana-sweetened sauce just isn't the same.

If you love the flavor of bananas, be sure to check out these incredible banana desserts.

How to use it:

Replace honey with mashed ripened bananas using a 2:1 ratio. For every 2 tablespoons of honey, use one tablespoon of banana. Be sure to use the ripest, brownest bananas you have to get the most flavor!

13. Barley Malt Syrup

Barley malt syrup is an unrefined sweetener made from barley that has been soaked and sprouted. It is a good healthy honey alternative since it is full of dietary fiber and micronutrients. However, it is not nearly as sweet as honey. The texture and consistency are almost identical so you can easily swap honey for barley malt syrup.

How to use it:

Use one cup of barley malt syrup to replace a cup of honey. Your recipes will be a little less sweet but there shouldn't be too much of a chance in the dish otherwise.

14. Liquid Stevia

If you need a sugar free honey substitute that won't increase your blood sugar, try using liquid stevia. Stevia is a plant based sweetener that aids in lowering insulin and also has zero calories. It is about 200 times sweeter than sugar so you only need a little bit.

Stevia does not have the distinct taste of honey and it is also a completely different texture. It is best used to replace honey in savory, culinary applications rather than for baking.

How to use it:

Replace one cup of honey with about 15 drops of liquid stevia. Use this low-carb honey sub in sauces, marinades, and glazes for savory dishes. It is also good to mix into your tea or coffee. Try not to use this substitute when baking as it will have a huge impact on your sweets.

15. Homemade Honey

While you can't actually make honey, you can make a syrup that comes close! The syrup is thick, sweet, and has a strong, unique flavor just like honey.

Pour two tablespoons of boiling water over a chamomile tea bag in a bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes then squeeze the water out of the tea bag and into a small pot. Whisk in ½ cup agave nectar and ¼ teaspoon sea salt. Boil this mix for 5 minutes then it is ready to use!

How to use it:

Use this homemade honey recipe to make a vegan honey syrup that can be used in a 1:1 ratio. It is great for baking or cooking.

16. Monk Fruit

Monkfruit is a small green fruit that is native to China. The sweetener is made from the dried fruit extract and it is about 200 times sweeter than sugar. Monk fruit sweetener has no calories or carbs so it can be good for those on a diet.

How to use it:

Replace one cup of honey with about 7 teaspoons of monk fruit sweetener. Monk fruit is a good sweetener for savory applications but may alter baked goods too drastically.